Posts Tagged ‘faction’

With the establishment of the Crimson Legion and the Brotherhood of the Ebon Circle, a balance in resistance was created. This constant conflict leaves many injured and dead in its wake. Their casualties are not being replaced by new recruits quickly enough to maintain their ranks. Supply and demand creates opportunity. Many warriors have no interest in politics or fighting for a cause, but coin is required by all.

The Legion and the Brotherhood scoured the land, hiring anyone they could find to fight for their cause. This was resource intensive, inefficient, and did not provide them with nearly the amount of warriors they required. Governments would help with money under the table, but could not provide forces showing public support for either cause.

This situation spawned a group that call themselves the Mercs. A few entrepreneurial warriors banded together and the mercenary faction was formed. Now the Legion and Brotherhood have a steady supply of warriors to help them destroy each other. As long as they keep killing each other, the Mercs will have a steady stream of income. Neither faction has been able to get the Mercs to side one way or another because the Mercs need the Legion and the Brotherhood. Without both, the flow of gold ends.

The Mercs crest is simplicity itself and is as straight forward as their faction name: A sword and axes. They are weapons for hire and that is what their crest speaks to. Hire them and they will remain loyal for the duration of their contract.

We will see what fate lies in store for the Mercs. Will they continue to worship the almighty coin or choose a side in the ongoing conflict? If you have no stance on the war on slavery, then the Mercs may be a good place for you. They do not involve themselves in politics and will do business with supporters of both the Legion and the Brotherhood.

Once the Serndall trade route was opened to all, the slave market exploded. Access to new sources of slaves were now available to slave raiders, and a neutral ground was formed for trade between all nations.

Over time, revolutionaries appeared who believed that slavery was immoral and needed to be stopped. No nation would stand against slavery, fearing an economic collapse, so those fighting against slavery started their own: the Free Nation.

All were welcome to live within the Free Nation with one stipulation: they must devote their lives to the abolishment of slavery, and prove to be productive members of the fledgling society.

At first, the Free Nation grew in secrecy, as their location was unknown to anyone but those that had joined. Eventually growing large enough, other nations became aware of their existence. By that time, the Free Nation was established as a defensible and productive land, though the location of their main base of operations has still not been discovered.

Many of the surrounding nations tried to destroy the upstart Free Nation, but they could not break the spirit of these people who were devoted to their cause. No one expected them to grow as quickly as they did, and no one realized how much revenge can fuel the spirit.

The Free Nation initially grew from escaped and freed slaves who had jumped at the chance of joining a nation of their own, offering protection and giving them a chance at freedom and revenge. The Free Nation population and infrastructure quickly grew to a point where they could effectively defend their lands, and prepare for the day that others would unite to wipe them out.

During this period of growth, the Free Nation had to attend to the normal needs of a rapidly expanding society, so they could no longer focus strictly on abolishing slavery. The need to feed their people, clear the lands, build cities and towns and create a strong economy became paramount.

And thus the beginnings of the Crimson Legion. A faction, created by Free Nation warriors, devoting their lives to destroy and stop the Brotherhood of the Ebon Circle, free slaves, and protect their home from outside aggression. All races of free people are welcome.

The Legion’s crest is a crimson rising dragon. This represents a people rising from tyranny and slavery – a symbol to begin their lives anew; rising up and fighting for their new world and the cause of freedom.

Slavers used to to be divided by their nationality. Slavers were expected to capture slaves from other nations, but never their own. Their nations governments would not allow slavers to capture their own citizens. This led to several slave teams in each nation, with no official connection to one another. Governments used the slavers for political reasons and the slavers used the governments for economic reasons.

With the rise of the Crimson Legion, the slave trade began to suffer. Profits were going towards hired hands to help protect their product. They were losing men and slaves to the relentless fury of the Crimson Legion. For the first time in history, a slave run could end in a loss of income. Many fled the business seeing no profit or fearing for their lives. The Crimson Legion was winning.

There were some that would not let go of the slave trade business. It was all they knew how to do and they had nowhere else to go. For others, it is the pure joy of dominating another spirit and breaking them to their will. And there are always those that are just natural born killers. They began to unite. With secretive funding from governments and private individuals, the slavers began to regroup quickly. This was the formation of the Brotherhood of the Ebon Circle. An organized and well funded faction of slavers, focused solely on the continuation slave trade industry.

The Brotherhood is filled with unconscionable individuals determined to bring pain and suffering to the world. Thus the crest of a skull. An image of the death the Brotherhood brings and the soulless individuals that join and lead this faction of slavers.

Their whole purpose is to capture, trade, and sell slaves. Since they’re not exactly liked by people (who are product to them), they have an “us against the world” philosophy. Very clannish, getting into the Brotherhood requires fanatical dedication to the cause. Admittance into the Brotherhood requires getting a tattoo of a black circle on the right cheek, thus marking you for life as a member of the Brotherhood. If you cannot devote your life to the Brotherhood, then you are not of the required caliber to enter. Their ties to government and wealthy supporters makes the Brotherhood a very dangerous and powerful faction.